Press Room

GOODWILL® OF ORANGE COUNTY TO RECEIVE $100,000 FROM EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES FOUNDATIONFunds will Further Goodwill’s Efforts to Help Local Veterans

SANTA ANA, CA — December 1, 2015 – Goodwill of Orange County announced last week it will receive $100,000 from Edwards Lifesciences Foundation to support Goodwill’s Tierney Center for Veterans Services, a global approach to serving veterans and their families that helps find resources and services to meet and serve their unique needs, including housing, employment training and job placement, educational advancement, and wellness programs.

Edwards Lifesciences Foundation’s three-year investment will allow Goodwill to enhance the quality of life of veterans and their families living in Orange County by integrating Goodwill’s services with those of other veterans service providers in the community.

“We are tremendously grateful for the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation’s support of our program to help veterans and their families as they transition back to civilian life,” said Frank Talarico, Jr., President and CEO of Goodwill of Orange County. “With their help, we’re truly going to make a difference in the lives of thousands of former servicemen and women living in Orange County.”

Goodwill’s Tierney Center for Veteran Services streamlines access to services and offers one point of contact for addressing veterans’ needs to eliminate any confusion or hoops to jump through. Goodwill has created an extensive network of resources and community partners to meet any and all veteran needs.

“As a proud employer of veterans who have sacrificed to serve our country, we understand some of the toughest challenges they face,” said Amanda C. Fowler, Edwards Lifesciences’ Executive Director, Global Corporate Giving. “We were impressed with Goodwill’s knowledge of the issues facing our veteran neighbors, and we look forward to lending our support to help those in need.”

Edwards Lifesciences Foundation made donations to other nonprofits supporting veterans in the community, with Goodwill of Orange County receiving the largest donation.

About Goodwill of Orange County Since 1924, Goodwill of Orange County has been in the business of helping people who are facing barriers to entering the workforce in a meaningful, fulfilling manner. Founded on the belief that every person should have the opportunity to achieve the independence that work provides, Goodwill is most recognized for being the conduit where donated goods are sold in America’s favorite thrift stores to generate the revenue that provides the services to those who face employment challenges. Celebrating its 90th year in 2014, Goodwill of Orange County has supported hundreds of thousands of Orange County residents since its inception by creating and providing quality training and employment services to empower its program participants to be productive and independent. The nonprofit organization has dozens of programs that support this effort, including the Goodwill Fitness Center, Orange County’s only facility specially designed for people suffering from chronic illnesses and physical disabilities; its global approach to serving veterans and their families, Goodwill of Orange County Tierney Center for Veteran Services, which helps former service members and their families find resources and services to meet and serve their unique needs, including housing, job placement, education, and wellness; and its Assistive Technology Exchange Center (ATEC), which provides access to more than 1,000 state-of-the-art technology devices for children and adults with disabilities. These are just a few of Goodwill of Orange County’s innovative programs that have served those facing barriers in Orange County for the past nine decades. In 2012, Goodwill was named one of Orange County’s Most Trusted Brands. To learn more about Goodwill of Orange County, visit ocgoodwill.org.

About Edwards Lifesciences Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring. Driven by a passion to help patients, the company partners with clinicians to develop innovative technologies in the areas of structural heart disease and critical care monitoring, enabling them to save and enhance lives. Additional company information can be found at edwards.com.

Goodwill of Orange County has been accredited by CARF for 10 of its Community Integration, Employment Development Services, Organizational Employment Services and Community Employment Services programs.